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Post by EvilNerfherder on Apr 29, 2005 14:03:24 GMT
Luke was Anakin's son...and he isn't yet Darth Vader at the start of the movie.. so a variation on Luke's theme isn't that daft an idea. I know the original Trilogy music well but am not so sure on the last two.. Did Anakin actually have a theme.. or was it a variation on Luke's? Think I'll have to watch Ep1 & 2 again. Also, (and I think this may be part of the plan), as Slick2097 suggests, it helps bridge the gap between the two trilogys, which we know Lucas is keen on. I understand when Anakin becomes Vader a variation on the Imperial March IS used. That makes sense to start using it there.
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Post by Warmonger on Apr 29, 2005 16:56:37 GMT
a lot of it is too much like Last Crusade which was one of his weakest film soundtracks. Wow, I've got to disagree. Last Crusade was an *AWESOME* soundtrack. I'm not sure how you could possibly label it as one of his weakest. It probably isn't in his top 5 of all time, but it is still really good. You certainly can't judge it strictly by the CD release either, as there is a lot of music in the movie that was not released in the soundtrack album. I'm not a huge fan of his stuff from Episode 1 & 2, but it certainly isn't because it is too much like Last Crusade. About the only thing that is similar between the two is the trade federation march and the Nazi music used in Last Crusade, and I think there are obvious parallels there. I just don't think he was as inspired by Ep 1 & 2 to write great music because the films themselves weren't that great. His music isn't bad by any means, but it isn't up to the amazing stuff he produced in the late 70's and early 80's. Even Williams himself has admitted that he has slowed down due to age and can't write the same way that he did 25 years ago. But he is still good enough to be one of the best in Hollywood.
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Post by Warmonger on Apr 29, 2005 17:01:50 GMT
\ The main "Star Wars" theme is the opening credits, whereas lukes theme is a section of that, but played in a different key (something minor I think, I can't remember now). Luke did not have a theme to himself. Often Williams would use the main Star Wars theme when Luke was doing heroic things, since he WAS considered the main character. Other times, Williams would use the force theme, for example, with the binary suns on Tatooine. As for Anakin in the new movies, he DID have his own theme, and while it was completely original, it did weave in traces of the Imerial March at its ending.
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Post by the Donal on Apr 29, 2005 17:06:10 GMT
I must admit- I'd be devastated if a Star Wars movie started with a different theme.
It just has that big grin factor when seeing a movie for the first time at the cinema. The lucasfilm and 'galaxy far,far away" appear on screen and I'm just bracing myself for the rush when the big fanfare starts.
I watched the abyss again the other day- the music of the submarine chase near the end is SUCH a pastiche of the Jaws theme- check it out. I'm surprise there was no litigation there!
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Post by I own a cylinder on Apr 29, 2005 19:25:11 GMT
Many of the film composer master will become sour at some point or another................Except Hans Zimmerman coz hez a legend.
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Post by Lensman on Apr 29, 2005 19:41:59 GMT
If you want to hear williams (and non-starwars related tunes) you need to look at saving private ryan and schindlers list style movie soundtracks. Not to mention Jaws; Close Encounters; Jurassic Park; and for something really different: The Cowboys. I've got a number of John Williams' soundtracks; he's one of my favorite modern composers.
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Post by Lensman on Apr 29, 2005 19:56:58 GMT
Nope I'm sorry your case doesn't hold water. There are def mix ups between Phantom Menace and Clones and a lot of it is too much like Last Crusade which was one of his weakest film soundtracks. Slick2097 is correct. Lucas is deliberately repeating themes in the Star Wars films, just as in the old movie serials where similar situations occurred during different episodes of the same serial. The parallels between Anakin and Luke are striking: Being taken from his mother at an early age; never having known his father; naturally being a great pilot; single-handedly destroying the enemy flagship with a fighter craft; being tutored by Jedi; Yoda complaining he is "too old" to begin Jedi training; having his hand/arm cut off; and of course, being tempted by the Dark Side. John Williams' deliberate repetitions and variations on the Star Wars themes are very much in keeping with the spirit of the Star Wars Saga. But yeah, Williams is getting on in years, so it would hardly be surprising if his best work was behind him. That said, I thought some of the music for "The Phantom Menace" was quite original and among his best work.
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Post by FALLINGSTAR on Apr 29, 2005 20:08:51 GMT
Slick2097 is correct. Lucas is deliberately repeating themes in the Star Wars films, just as in the old movie serials where similar situations occurred during different episodes of the same serial. The parallels between Anakin and Luke are striking: Being taken from his mother at an early age; never having known his father; naturally being a great pilot; single-handedly destroying the enemy flagship with a fighter craft; being tutored by Jedi; Yoda complaining they are "too old" to begin Jedi training; having his hand/arm cut off; and of course, being tempted by the Dark Side. John Williams' deliberate repetitions and variations on the Star Wars themes are very much in keeping with the spirit of the Star Wars Saga. But yeah, Williams is getting on in years, so it would hardly be surprising if his best work was behind him. That said, I thought some of the music for "The Phantom Menace" was quite original and among his best work. The 'Dual of the fates' was a great piece! Shame Williams isn't working on a proper version of the book though instead of Spielbergs travesty.
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